Çimenlik Castle, Ottoman fortress in Çanakkale, Turkey.
Çimenlik Castle sits at the narrowest stretch of the Dardanelles with solid stone walls and nine defensive bastions surrounding its perimeter. The layout was designed to monitor shipping traffic passing through this vital waterway.
Sultan Mehmed II commissioned this fortress in 1452 to control maritime passage before his siege of Constantinople. It later became a major defensive position during the 1915 campaign at the Dardanelles.
Two historic mosques occupy the fortress courtyard, each reflecting the Ottoman periods in which they were built. These spaces reveal how religious life was woven into the daily operations of this military stronghold.
The fortress now functions as a naval museum displaying military artifacts, historical cannons, and campaign details. Visitors should allow time to walk the walls, examine the exhibits, and explore the courtyards at a comfortable pace.
An unexploded British artillery shell from the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth remains lodged in the northern wall since 1915. The shell serves as a direct reminder of the fierce naval combat that took place at this location.
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